Leland funding buys added Brunswick stops for Wave route

Published: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 4:44 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 4:44 p.m.

When Wave Transit institutes higher fares on Feb. 4, it could also be introducing new routes, including one that shifts service around Brunswick County.

New stops will include Leland Middle School, North Brunswick High School and one near Brunswick Forest.

Brunswick County stops that will be removed include those at Corinthian Place Retirement Home, the Food Lion on Mount Misery Road, Blackwell Road and Chappell Loop Road, and Blackwell Road and Village Road.

Under the old agreement, the shuttle began service at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, ending at 6:30 p.m. Friday. If the new routes are approved by Wave's board, the connector will start service at 6 a.m. each weekday.

The connector's future was up in air during the summer, when Wave asked Brunswick County governments for substantially higher funds to help pay higher fuel costs and make up for fewer dollars coming in from the state.

In May, Belville's Board of Commissioners unanimously declined to pay $11,949 for the 2012-13 fiscal year, a 128 percent jump from the $5,239 the town paid for the service in the 2011-12 year.

Navassa agreed to pay $14,859 and Brunswick County offered $14,005 to continue the service.

Leland, though, took up the mantle of the connector's leading agency, volunteering to pay $50,000 to keep it in place.

At a Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority meeting on Dec. 20, Albert Eby, Wave's executive director, said Leland would receive more service as a result of stepping up to pay the fee.

The new route arrangement would begin Feb. 4, the same day regular bus fares rise from $1.50 to $2.

<p>When <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9963"><b>Wave Transit</b></a> institutes higher fares on Feb. 4, it could also be introducing new routes, including one that shifts service around Brunswick County.</p><p>New stops will include <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic9971"><b>Leland</b></a> Middle School, North Brunswick High School and one near Brunswick Forest.</p><p>Brunswick County stops that will be removed include those at Corinthian Place Retirement Home, the Food Lion on Mount Misery Road, Blackwell Road and Chappell Loop Road, and Blackwell Road and Village Road.</p><p>Under the old agreement, the shuttle began service at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, ending at 6:30 p.m. Friday. If the new routes are approved by Wave's board, the connector will start service at 6 a.m. each weekday.</p><p>The connector's future was up in air during the summer, when Wave asked Brunswick County governments for substantially higher funds to help pay higher fuel costs and make up for fewer dollars coming in from the state.</p><p>In May, Belville's Board of Commissioners unanimously declined to pay $11,949 for the 2012-13 fiscal year, a 128 percent jump from the $5,239 the town paid for the service in the 2011-12 year.</p><p>Navassa agreed to pay $14,859 and Brunswick County offered $14,005 to continue the service.</p><p>Leland, though, took up the mantle of the connector's leading agency, volunteering to pay $50,000 to keep it in place.</p><p>At a Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority meeting on Dec. 20, Albert Eby, Wave's executive director, said Leland would receive more service as a result of stepping up to pay the fee.</p><p>The new route arrangement would begin Feb. 4, the same day regular bus fares rise from $1.50 to $2.</p><p>Adam Wagner: 343-2096</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @adamwagner1990</p>